Stem Cells from Extracted Teeth?

Other than relieving the pain of a toothache, tooth extraction has had very little benefit to dental patients…until now. Now, dentists can work with specialized laboratories to harvest and store stem cells from extracted teeth, in the hopes that these cells can serve as valuable healing aids in the event of a future injury or illness.

Did you know that you can now store stem cells that have been harvested from your own extracted teeth? Remarkable advances in medical science have allowed for the use of stem cells to regenerate and eventually replace lost or damaged cells in the body. By having your own stem cells stored, you could be preserving the cure for future diseases or injuries you may incur.

Stem cells, unlike other cells in the body, can regenerate and produce specialized cell types. Stem cells are responsible for healing the body when it is injured. Scientists are now able to harvest stem cells and control their growth into specialized cells, such as skin, blood, cartilage, and muscle cells. This has allowed for the birth of treatments for a range of diseases and conditions, including brain injury, certain cancers, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, sports injuries, and many more.

Using a person's own stem cells for medical treatment guarantees a lower risk of rejection, which means fewer immune-weakening drugs are needed. With this in mind, people are beginning to harvest and store stem cells in case they are needed in the event of a future illness or injury.

Stem cells are found in most tissues in the body, but the stem cells in extracted, viable teeth are often more accessible than cells found in other tissues. Furthermore, the stem cells found in teeth are believed to be some of the strongest stem cells found in the body. These cells replicate more quickly and for a longer amount of time than stem cells harvested from other parts of the body.Any tooth with healthy pulp is a good source of stem cells, including lost baby teeth, wisdom teeth, or teeth extracted for orthodontics. Upon extraction, teeth are placed into a special transport kit, where they will be nourished to preserve living tissues on the way to the preservation laboratory.

The extent to which stem cells will influence modern medicine is yet unknown, but the possibilities are vast. There are a number of companies that work with dentists to extract and save stem cells from lost teeth. If you are interested in dental stem cell banking, contact your dentist for more information.